Field terminable optical fiber connector with splice element

ABSTRACT

An optical fiber connector includes a housing configured to mate with a receptacle, a collar body that includes a fiber stub and a mechanical splice device, a backbone to retain the collar body within the housing, and a boot. The backbone includes a fiber jacket clamping portion to clamp a jacket portion that surrounds a portion of the terminated optical fiber upon actuation. The boot actuates the fiber jacket clamping portion of the backbone upon attachment to the backbone. The optical fiber connector can be terminated in the field without the need to use a separate termination platform or tool.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/066,370, now allowed, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/990,520, filed Nov. 1, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No.8,573,859, which is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 ofPCT/US2009/044073, filed May 15, 2009, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/059,433, filed Jun. 6, 2008, thedisclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entiretyherein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to an optical fiber connector.

2. Related Art

Mechanical optical fiber connectors for the telecommunications industryare known. For example, LC, ST, FC, and SC optical connectors are widelyused.

However, commercially available optical fiber connectors are not wellsuited for field installations. Typically, an adhesive is required tomount these types of connectors on to an optical fiber. This process canbe awkward and time consuming to perform in the field. Alsopost-assembly polishing requires that the craftsman have a higher degreeskill.

Also known are hybrid optical fiber splice connectors, as described inJP Patent No. 3445479, JP Application No. 2004-210251 (WO 2006/019516)and JP Application No. 2004-210357 (WO 2006/019515). However, thesehybrid splice connectors are not compatible with standard connectorformats and require significant piecewise assembly of the connector inthe field. The handling and orientation of multiple small pieces of theconnector can result in incorrect connector assembly that may eitherresult in decreased performance or increase the chance of damaging thefiber.

More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,738 describes an optical fiberconnector that includes a pre-polished fiber stub disposed in ferrulethat is spliced to a field fiber with a mechanical splice. Such aconnector, called an NPC, is now commercially available through 3MCompany (St. Paul, Minn.).

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an optical fiberconnector for terminating an optical fiber is provided. The opticalfiber connector includes a housing configured to mate with a receptacle.The optical fiber connector also includes a collar body disposed in thehousing, wherein the collar body includes a fiber stub disposed in afirst end portion of the collar body. The fiber stub includes a firstoptical fiber mounted in a ferrule and has a first end proximate to anend face of the ferrule and a second end. The collar body furtherincludes a mechanical splice device disposed in a portion of the collarbody, where the mechanical splice device is configured to splice thesecond end of the fiber stub to a second optical fiber. The opticalfiber connector also includes a backbone to retain the collar bodywithin the housing, the backbone including a fiber jacket clampingportion to clamp a jacket portion that surrounds a portion of the secondoptical fiber upon actuation. The optical fiber connector also includesa boot attachable to a portion of the backbone, wherein the bootactuates the fiber jacket clamping portion of the backbone uponattachment to the backbone.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method forterminating an optical fiber in an optical connector is provided.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describeeach illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the presentinvention. The figures and the detailed description that follows moreparticularly exemplify these embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an optical fiber connector according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an optical fiber connector according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical fiber connectoraccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an exemplary collar body of an opticalfiber connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an exemplary backbone of an optical fiberconnector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an exemplary boot of an optical fiber connectoraccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A-7F show isometric views of the optical fiber connector duringdifferent stages of an exemplary field termination process according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternativeforms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in thedrawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood,however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following Detailed Description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shownby way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention maybe practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,”“bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “forward,” “trailing,” etc., isused with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described.Because components of embodiments of the present invention can bepositioned in a number of different orientations, the directionalterminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no waylimiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilizedand structural or logical changes may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention.

The present invention is directed to an optical fiber connector. Inparticular, the optical fiber connector of the exemplary embodiments isof compact length and is capable of straightforward field termination.Further, the straightforward field termination can be accomplishedwithout the use of a connector termination platform or separate crimpingtool. The exemplary connector(s) described herein can be readilyinstalled and utilized for Fiber To The Home (FTTH) and/or Fiber To TheX (FTTX) network installations. The exemplary connector(s) can beutilized in installation environments that require ease of use whenhandling multiple connections, especially where labor costs are moreexpensive.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, anoptical fiber connector 100 is shown in isometric view in FIG. 1. Thecomponents of the optical fiber connector are shown in an exploded viewin FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows a section view of the optical fiber connector100. FIGS. 4-6 show close up views of elements of the optical fiberconnector, including the collar body 120, the backbone 116, and the boot180.

Optical connector 100 is configured to mate with a receptacle of acorresponding format. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, exemplary opticalconnector 100 is configured as having an SC format. However, as would beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art given the presentdescription, optical connectors having other standard formats, such asST, FC, and LC connector formats, can also be provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, SC-type optical fiber connector 100 can include aconnector body having a housing 110 and a fiber boot 180. A cap 190 canbe placed at the front end of the connector to protect the stub fiberend when not in use.

Connector 100 includes a housing 110 having an outer shell configured tobe received in an SC receptacle (e.g., an SC coupling, an SC adapter, oran SC socket). As shown in FIG. 2, connector 100 also includes a collarbody 120 (which can also be referred to as a barrel) to house a ferruleand a splice device, a multi-purpose backbone 116 that retains thecollar body 120 within the connector, and a boot 180.

In this exemplary embodiment, connector 100 can be utilized to terminatea field optical fiber cable 135. Optical fiber cable 135 is a jacketedcable that includes an outer jacket 136, a coated portion 137 (e.g.,with a buffer coating or the like), a fiber portion 138 (e.g., the bareclad/core), and strength members 139. In a preferred aspect, thestrength members 139 comprise aramid, Kevlar, or polyester yarn orstrands disposed between an inner surface of the fiber jacket 136 and anouter surface of coated portion 137. Optical fiber cable 135 can be astandard cylindrically shaped cable structure or it can be analternatively shaped structure, such as a rectangular-shaped cable.

In one aspect, the backbone 116 provides structural support for theconnector 100. In a further aspect, the backbone 116 is an elongatedstructure (having a length of from about 50 mm to about 60 mm) that alsoprovides clamping for the optical fiber being terminated in the field.Moreover, the backbone 116 can provide further axial strain relief byproviding a clamping surface for the strength members of the opticalfiber being terminated.

Backbone 116 includes an opening 112 at a front end to allow forinsertion of the collar body 120 (see e.g., FIG. 7A). Backbone 116further includes an access opening 117, which can provide access toactuate a mechanical splice device disposed within the connector collarbody. In a preferred aspect, as is shown in FIG. 5, access opening 117can have a cut-out or shallow depression formed on the sides toaccommodate a user's thumb or finger during actuation of the splicedevice. The backbone 116 has an axial bore throughout to permit passageof the optical fiber being terminated. As is also shown in more detailin FIG. 5, backbone 116 can further include a mounting structure 118that provides for coupling to the fiber boot 180. In an exemplaryaspect, the mounting structure comprises a threaded surface formed on anouter portion of backbone 116 that is configured to engage acorresponding threaded surface 184 of the boot 180 (see FIG. 6). Also,the mounting structure 118 can provide a retention area for securing thestrength members of the optical fiber cable being terminated.

In addition, the backbone can include a fiber guide 113 formed in aninterior portion therein to provide axial alignment support for theoptical fiber cable being terminated. In an exemplary aspect, the fiberguide portion 113 is a funnel-shaped channel or groove that aligns abuffered portion of the optical fiber and guides the fiber toward themechanical splice device 140 housed in the collar body 120.

The backbone 116 also includes a collar body mount structure 115configured to receive and secure the collar body 120 within thebackbone. In a preferred aspect, collar body mount structure 115comprises a rigid structure formed in an interior region of backbone 116having an axial bore therethrough. The axial bore can be of appropriatesize to receive and engage raised end structures 128 of collar body 120(see FIG. 3). In addition, collar body mount structure 115 also forms ashoulder that can be used as a flange to provide resistance againstspring 155 that is positioned over the second end portion 126 of thecollar body 120. The spring 155 provides and maintains an adequatecontact force when two connectors are joined together.

Backbone 116 can further include one or more stops 114 formed on aninterior portion thereof to provide a boundary for the insertion of thejacketed portion 136 of the optical fiber cable 135 being terminated (asexplained in more detail below). In addition, backbone 116 includes aclamping portion 119 formed at one an end of the backbone. The clampingportion 119 is configured to clamp onto the jacket portion 136 of theoptical fiber cable 135 being terminated in connector 100. In apreferred aspect, clamping portion 119 comprises a collet-type, splitbody shape that is actuated when the boot is secured to mountingstructure 118. The clamping portion 119 can include raised innersurfaces to permit ready clamping of the cable jacket portion 136. In analternative aspect, the connector can also include an adapter tube to beplaced over the cable jacket portion of the optical fiber cable, forexample, when the optical fiber cable being clamped is of a smallerdiameter. In addition, the clamping portion 119 also can provide a guidestructure when inserting fiber cable 135 during the termination process.Thus, boot 180 can be utilized to clamp the fiber strength members 139and the fiber jacket 136. The interaction of the boot 180 and thebackbone 116 will be described in greater detail below.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, housing110 and backbone 116 are formed or molded from a polymer material,although metal and other suitably rigid materials can also be utilized.Housing 110 is preferably secured to an outer surface of backbone 116via snap fit (see e.g., outer engagement surface 111 shown in FIG. 5).

As mentioned above, connector 100 further includes a collar body 120that is disposed within the connector housing and retained by thebackbone. According to exemplary embodiments, the collar body 120 is amulti-purpose element that can house a ferrule 132 and optical fiberstub 134 and a mechanical splice device 140. The collar body isconfigured to have some limited axial movement within backbone 116. Forexample, the collar body 120 can include a collar or shoulder 125 thatcan be used as a flange to provide resistance against spring 155 (seeFIGS. 2 and 3), interposed between the collar body and the backboneportion 115. According to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, collar body 120 can be formed or molded from a polymermaterial, although metal and other suitable materials can also beutilized. For example, collar body 120 can comprise an injection-molded,integral material.

In particular, collar body 120 includes a first end portion 121 havingan opening to receive and house a ferrule 132 having an optical fiberstub 134 secured therein. The collar body also includes a second endportion 126 configured to engage with the collar body mount structure115 of backbone 116. In a preferred aspect, second end portion 126 has araised structure portion 128 that has a sloping shape that is insertablethrough the bore of the collar body mount structure 115, as is shown inFIG. 3. Raised surfaces 128 of the second end portion can be insertedinto the bore and engage against backbone mount structure 115 due to thebias of the spring 155.

The collar body 120 also secures the fiber stub and ferrule in place inthe connector 100. Ferrule 132 can be formed from a ceramic, glass,plastic, or metal material to support the optical fiber stub 134inserted and secured therein. In a preferred aspect, ferrule 132 is aceramic ferrule.

An optical fiber stub 134 is inserted through the ferrule 132, such thata first fiber stub end slightly protrudes from or is coincident orcoplanar with the end face of ferrule 132. Preferably, this first fiberstub end is factory polished (e.g., a flat or angle-polish, with orwithout bevels). A second end of the fiber stub 134 extends part-wayinto the interior of the connector 100 and is spliced to the fiberportion 138 of an optical fiber cable (such as optical fiber cable 135).Preferably, the second end of fiber stub 134 can be cleaved (flat orangled, with or without bevels).

In one aspect, the second end of fiber stub 134 can be polished in thefactory to reduce the sharpness of the edge of the fiber, which cancreate scrapings (debris) as it is installed in the splice element. Forexample, an electrical arc, such as one provided by a conventionalfusion splicer machine, can be utilized to melt the tip of the fiber andform a rounded end, thereby removing the sharp edges. This electricalarc technique can be used in conjunction with polishing by an abrasivematerial to better control end face shape while reducing possibledistortion of the core. An alternative non-contact method utilizes laserenergy to ablate/melt the tip of the fiber.

Fibers 134, 138 can comprise standard single mode or multimode opticalfiber, such as SMF 28 (available from Corning Inc.). In an alternativeembodiment, fiber stub 134 additionally includes a carbon coatingdisposed on the outer clad of the fiber to further protect theglass-based fiber. In an exemplary aspect, fiber stub 134 ispre-installed and secured (e.g., by epoxy or other adhesive) in ferrule132, which is disposed in the first end portion 121 of collar body 120.Ferrule 132 is preferably secured within collar body first end portion121 via an epoxy or other suitable adhesive. Preferably,pre-installation of the fiber stub can be performed in the factory.

Referring back to FIG. 4, collar body 120 further includes a spliceelement housing portion 123. In an exemplary aspect, splice elementhousing portion 123 provides an opening 122 in which a mechanical spliceelement 142 can be inserted and secured in the central cavity of collarbody 120. In an exemplary embodiment, mechanical splice element 142 ispart of a mechanical splice device (also referred to herein as a splicedevice or splice), such as a 3M™ FIBRLOK™ mechanical fiber optic splicedevice, available from 3M Company, of Saint Paul, Minn.

For example, commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,653, incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety, describes an optical fiber splice device(similar to a 3M™ FIBRLOK™ II mechanical fiber optic splice device) thatincludes a splice element that comprises a sheet of ductile materialhaving a focus hinge that couples two legs, where each of the legsincludes a fiber gripping channel (e.g., a V-type (or similar) groove)to optimize clamping forces for conventional glass optical fibersreceived therein. The ductile material, for example, can be aluminum oranodized aluminum. In addition, a conventional index matching fluid canbe preloaded into the V-groove region of the splice element for improvedoptical connectivity within the splice element. In another aspect, noindex matching fluid is utilized.

In this exemplary aspect, the splice element 142 can be configuredsimilar to the splice element from a 3M™ FIBRLOK™ II mechanical fiberoptic splice device or a 3M™ FIBRLOK™ 4×4 mechanical fiber optic splicedevice. Other conventional mechanical splice devices can also beutilized in accordance with alternative aspects of the present inventionand are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,824,197; 5,102,212; 5,138,681; and5,155,787, each of which is incorporated by reference herein, in theirentirety.

Mechanical splice element 142 allows a field technician to splice thesecond end of fiber stub 134 to a stripped fiber portion 138 of anoptical fiber cable 135 at a field installation location. In anexemplary embodiment, utilizing a 3M™ FIBRLOK™ II mechanical fiber opticsplice device, splice device 140 can include splice element 142 and anactuating cap 144 (FIG. 2). In operation, as the cap 144 is moved froman open position to a closed position (e.g. downward in the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 2 or in the direction of arrow 107 in FIG. 7D), one ormore cam bars located on an interior portion of the cap 144 can slideover the splice element legs, urging them toward one another. Two fiberends, (e.g., one end of fiber stub 134 and one end of fiber 138 fromoptical fiber cable 135) are held in place in grooves formed in thesplice element and butted against each other and are spliced together ina channel, such as a V-groove channel to provide sufficient opticalconnection, as the element legs are moved toward one another.

Splice element 142 is mountable in a mounting device or cradle 124(partially shown in FIG. 4) located in portion 123 of collar body 120.In an exemplary embodiment, cradle 124 is integrally formed in collarbody 120, e.g., by molding. Cradle 124 can secure (through e.g., snug orsnap-fit) the axial and lateral position of the splice element 142. Themounting device 124 can be configured to hold the splice element suchthat the splice device cannot be rotated or easily moved forward orbackward once installed.

The mechanical splice allows a field technician to splice the second endof fiber stub 134 to the fiber of an optical fiber cable 135 at a fieldinstallation location. The term “splice,” as utilized herein, should notbe construed in a limiting sense since splice device 140 can allowremoval of a fiber. For example, the element can be “re-opened” afterinitial actuation, where the splice element housing portion can beconfigured to allow for the removal of the splice cap if so desired by ascrew driver or similar device. This configuration permits repositioningof the spliced fibers, followed by replacement of the cap to theactuating position.

As mentioned above, fiber boot 180 can be utilized for several purposeswith optical connector 100. As shown in FIG. 6, boot 180 includes atapered body 182 having an axial bore throughout. The boot 180 includesthreaded grooves 184 formed on an inner surface of the body 182 at theopening 185, where the grooves are configured to engage with thecorrespondingly threaded mounting structure 118 of the backbone 116. Inaddition, the axial length of boot 180 is configured such that a rearsection 183 of the boot, which has a smaller opening than at frontopening 185, engages the jacket clamp portion 119 of the backbone. Forexample, as is explained in more detail below, as the boot 180 issecured onto the mounting structure 118 of the backbone, the axialmovement of the boot relative to the backbone (see arrow 105 in FIG. 7C)forces the legs of clamp portion 119 to move radially inwards so thatthe fiber jacket 136 is tightly gripped. Also, the strength members 139of the optical fiber cable can be disposed between the boot and thethreaded mounting structure 118 to secure the strength members as theboot is installed. This construction can also provide a connectortermination capable of surviving rougher handling and greater pullforces.

In an exemplary aspect, boot 180 is formed from a rigid material. Forexample, one exemplary material can comprise a fiberglass reinforcedpolyphenylene sulfide compound material. In another aspect, thematerials used to form the boot 180 and the backbone 116 are the same.

An exemplary fiber cable utilized in this embodiment comprises a 3.0 mmjacketed drop cable, commercially available from Samsung Cable, Thai-hanCable, and others (all of Korea). As would be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art given the present description, the opticalconnector of the exemplary embodiments can be configured to terminatethe fibers of other types of jacketed drop cable, including 3.5 mm dropcable, and others.

As mentioned above, the optical fiber connector of the exemplaryembodiments is of compact length and is capable of straightforward fieldtermination without the use of a connector termination platform orseparate crimping tool. An exemplary termination process is nowdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7A-7F. Please note that referencenumbers used in these figures correspond with like features from FIGS.1-6.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the optical fiber connector is partly assembled byinserting the collar body 120, with ferrule 132 secured therein, in thedirection of arrow 104 into the opening 112 of the backbone 116. Thisstep may be performed prior to the field termination process or duringthe field termination process. As mentioned above, the raised structure128 of the collar body is inserted into the bore of structure 115. Thespring 155 will provide some bias against axial movement afterinsertion.

For field termination, optical fiber cable 135 is prepared by cutting ofa portion of the fiber cable jacket 136 and stripping off a coatedportion of the fiber near the terminating fiber end to leave a barefiber portion 138 and cleaving (flat or angled) the fiber end to matchthe orientation of the pre-installed fiber stub. In an exemplary aspect,about 50 mm of the jacket 136 can be removed, leaving about 25 mm ofstripped fiber. For example, a commercial fiber cleaver such as anIlsintech MAX CI-01 or the Ilsintech MAX CI-08, available fromIlsintech, Korea (not shown) can be utilized to provide a flat or anangled cleave. No polishing of the fiber end is required, as a cleavedfiber can be optically coupled to the fiber stub 134 in the splicedevice. The boot 180 can be slid over the fiber cable 135 for later use.As shown in FIG. 7B, optical fiber cable 135 can be inserted in thedirection of arrow 105 through the rear end of the connector (i.e.,through the clamping portion 119 of the connector backbone). In thismanner, the prepared fiber end can be spliced to the fiber stub with themechanical splice device 140. The fiber cable 135 is continuallyinserted until the coated portion 137 of the fiber begins bowing at 137′(which occurs as the end of fiber 138 meets the fiber stub 134 withsufficient end loading force). In addition, FIG. 7C shows that the stops114 formed on an interior portion of the backbone provide a boundary tostop further insertion of the jacketed portion 136 of the optical fibercable 135.

The splice device can then be actuated while the fibers are subject toan appropriate end loading force. To actuate the splice device, FIG. 7Dshows that a user can simultaneously compress the jacket clamp portion119 of the backbone by applying force in the direction of arrows 106(with one hand) while pressing downward (with a modest thumb or fingerforce) in the direction of arrow 107 onto the cap 144 of the splicingdevice. The fiber jacket can then be released at clamping portion 119,thereby removing the fiber bow.

The boot 180 (which is previously placed over fiber cable 135) is thenpushed onto the backbone 116. As is shown in FIG. 7E, the boot 180 canbe pushed axially toward the backbone mounting section 118 and thenscrewed onto the backbone mounting section 118 to secure the boot 180 inplace. As mentioned above, the installation of the boot 180 onto thebackbone 116 tightens the collet-style clamping portion 119 onto thefiber jacket. During this installation, the user can hold the Kevlarstrands 139 in place over the mounting structure 118 by application of amodest force (e.g., by thumb pressure) in the direction of arrow 108.After completion of the boot installation, the excess Kevlar can beremoved (e.g., cut away). As shown in FIG. 7F, the installation can becompleted by sliding the housing 110 onto the backbone.

Thus, the above termination procedure can be accomplished without theuse of any additional fiber termination platform or specialized tool.The optical connector is re-usable in that the splice cap can be removedand the above steps can be repeated.

The optical connectors described above can be used in many conventionaloptical connector applications such as drop cables and/or jumpers. Theoptical connectors described above can also be utilized for termination(connectorization) of optical fibers for interconnection and crossconnection in optical fiber networks inside a fiber distribution unit atan equipment room or a wall mount patch panel, inside pedestals, crossconnect cabinets or closures or inside outlets in premises for opticalfiber structured cabling applications. The optical connectors describedabove can also be used in termination of optical fiber in opticalequipment. In addition, one or more of the optical connectors describedabove can be utilized in alternative applications.

As mentioned above, the optical connector of the exemplary embodimentsis of compact length and is capable of straightforward field terminationwith reduced assembly times. Such exemplary connectors can be readilyinstalled and utilized for FTTP and/or FTTX network installations.

Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerousstructures to which the present invention may be applicable will bereadily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the presentinvention is directed upon review of the present specification.

We claim:
 1. An optical fiber connector for terminating an optical fiberof an optical fiber cable, comprising: a backbone that providesstructural support for the connector, the backbone including a jacketclamping portion to clamp a jacket portion of the optical fiber uponactuation and a thread mounting structure; and a boot attachable to aportion of the backbone, wherein the optical fiber cable comprises ajacket, a coated portion, a fiber portion and strength members and thestrength members of the optical fiber cable are disposed between theboot and the threaded mounting structure onto which the boot is screwed,and wherein the boot actuates the jacket clamping portion of thebackbone and secures the strength members upon attachment to thebackbone.
 2. The optical fiber connector of claim 1, further comprisinga housing configured to mate with a receptacle, and a collar bodydisposed in the housing, wherein the backbone to retains the collar bodywithin the housing.
 3. The optical fiber connector of claim 2, whereinthe collar body includes a fiber stub disposed in a first end portion ofthe collar body, the fiber stub including a first optical fiber mountedin a ferrule and having a first end proximate to an end face of theferrule and a second end, wherein the collar body further includes amechanical splice device disposed in a portion of the collar body, themechanical splice device configured to splice the second end of thefiber stub to the fiber portion.
 4. The optical fiber connector of claim1, wherein the boot attaches to the backbone via a screw-type mechanism.